Chapter 6

_Enter CALIBAN, STEPHANO, and TRINCULO._

_Ste._ Tell not me;--when the butt is out, we will drink water; not a drop before: therefore bear up, and board ’em. Servant-monster, drink to me.

_Trin._ Servant-monster! the folly of this island! They say there’s but five upon this isle: we are three of them; if 5 th’ other two be brained like us, the state totters.

_Ste._ Drink, servant-monster, when I bid thee: thy eyes are almost set in thy head.

_Trin._ Where should they be set else? he were a brave monster indeed, if they were set in his tail. 10

_Ste._ My man-monster hath drowned his tongue in sack: for my part, the sea cannot drown me; I swam, ere I could recover the shore, five-and-thirty leagues off and on. By this light, thou shalt be my lieutenant, monster, or my standard. 15

_Trin._ Your lieutenant, if you list; he’s no standard.

_Ste._ We’ll not run, Monsieur Monster.

_Trin._ Nor go neither; but you’ll lie, like dogs, and yet say nothing neither.

_Ste._ Moon-calf, speak once in thy life, if thou beest a 20 good moon-calf.

_Cal._ How does thy honour? Let me lick thy shoe. I’ll not serve him, he is not valiant.

_Trin._ Thou liest, most ignorant monster: I am in case to justle a constable. Why, thou debauched fish, thou, was 25 there ever man a coward that hath drunk so much sack as I to-day? Wilt thou tell a monstrous lie, being but half a fish and half a monster?

_Cal._ Lo, how he mocks me! wilt thou let him, my lord?

_Trin._ ‘Lord,’ quoth he! That a monster should be 30 such a natural!

_Cal._ Lo, lo, again! bite him to death, I prithee.

_Ste._ Trinculo, keep a good tongue in your head: if you prove a mutineer,--the next tree! The poor monster’s my subject, and he shall not suffer indignity. 35

_Cal._ I thank my noble lord. Wilt thou be pleased to hearken once again to the suit I made to thee?

_Ste._ Marry, will I: kneel and repeat it; I will stand, and so shall Trinculo.

_Enter ARIEL, invisible._

_Cal._ As I told thee before, I am subject to a tyrant, a 40 sorcerer, that by his cunning hath cheated me of the island.

_Ari._ Thou liest.

_Cal._ Thou liest, thou jesting monkey, thou: I would my valiant master would destroy thee! I do not lie.

_Ste._ Trinculo, if you trouble him any more in’s tale, by 45 this hand, I will supplant some of your teeth.

_Trin._ Why, I said nothing.

_Ste._ Mum, then, and no more. Proceed.

_Cal._ I say, by sorcery he got this isle; From me he got it. If thy greatness will 50 Revenge it on him,--for I know thou darest, But this thing dare not,--

_Ste._ That’s most certain.

_Cal._ Thou shalt be lord of it, and I’ll serve thee.

_Ste._ How now shall this be compassed? Canst thou 55 bring me to the party?

_Cal._ Yea, yea, my lord: I’ll yield him thee asleep, Where thou mayst knock a nail into his head.

_Ari._ Thou liest; thou canst not.

_Cal._ What a pied ninny’s this! Thou scurvy patch! 60 I do beseech thy Greatness, give him blows, And take his bottle from him: when that’s gone, He shall drink nought but brine; for I’ll not show him Where the quick freshes are.

_Ste._ Trinculo, run into no further danger: interrupt the 65 monster one word further, and, by this hand, I’ll turn my mercy out o’ doors, and make a stock-fish of thee.

_Trin._ Why, what did I? I did nothing. I’ll go farther off.

_Ste._ Didst thou not say he lied? 70

_Ari._ Thou liest.

_Ste._ Do I so? take thou that. [_Beats him._] As you like this, give me the lie another time.

_Trin._ I did not give the lie. Out o’ your wits, and hearing too? A pox o’ your bottle! this can sack and 75 drinking do. A murrain on your monster, and the devil take your fingers!

_Cal._ Ha, ha, ha!

_Ste._ Now, forward with your tale. --Prithee, stand farther off. 80

_Cal._ Beat him enough: after a little time, I’ll beat him too.

_Ste._ Stand farther. Come, proceed.

_Cal._ Why, as I told thee, ’tis a custom with him I’ th’ afternoon to sleep: there thou mayst brain him, Having first seized his books; or with a log 85 Batter his skull, or paunch him with a stake, Or cut his wezand with thy knife. Remember First to possess his books; for without them He’s but a sot, as I am, nor hath not One spirit to command: they all do hate him 90 As rootedly as I. Burn but his books. He has brave utensils,--for so he calls them,-- Which, when he has a house, he’ll deck withal. And that most deeply to consider is The beauty of his daughter; he himself 95 Calls her a nonpareil: I never saw a woman, But only Sycorax my dam and she; But she as far surpasseth Sycorax As great’st does least.

_Ste._ Is it so brave a lass?

_Cal._ Ay, lord; she will become thy bed, I warrant, 100 And bring thee forth brave brood.

_Ste._ Monster, I will kill this man: his daughter and I will be king and queen,--save our Graces!--and Trinculo and thyself shall be viceroys. Dost thou like the plot, Trinculo? 105

_Trin._ Excellent.

_Ste._ Give me thy hand: I am sorry I beat thee; but, while thou livest, keep a good tongue in thy head.

_Cal._ Within this half hour will he be asleep: Wilt thou destroy him then?

_Ste._ Ay, on mine honour. 110

_Ari._ This will I tell my master.

_Cal._ Thou makest me merry; I am full of pleasure: Let us be jocund: will you troll the catch You taught me but while-ere?

_Ste._ At thy request, monster, I will do reason, any 115 reason. --Come on. Trinculo, let us sing. [_Sings._

Flout ’em and scout ’em, and scout ’em and flout ’em; Thought is free.

_Cal._ That’s not the tune.

[_Ariel plays the tune on a tabor and pipe._

_Ste._ What is this same? 120

_Trin._ This is the tune of our catch, played by the picture of Nobody.

_Ste._ If thou beest a man, show thyself in thy likeness: if thou beest a devil, take’t as thou list.

_Trin._ O, forgive me my sins! 125

_Ste._ He that dies pays all debts: I defy thee. Mercy upon us!

_Cal._ Art thou afeard?

_Ste._ No, monster, not I.

_Cal._ Be not afeard; the isle is full of noises, 130 Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears; and sometime voices, That, if I then had waked after long sleep, Will make me sleep again: and then, in dreaming, 135 The clouds methought would open, and show riches Ready to drop upon me; that, when I waked, I cried to dream again.

_Ste._ This will prove a brave kingdom to me, where I shall have my music for nothing. 140

_Cal._ When Prospero is destroyed.

_Ste._ That shall be by and by: I remember the story.

_Trin._ The sound is going away; let’s follow it, and after do our work.

_Ste._ Lead, monster; we’ll follow. I would I could see 145 this taborer; he lays it on.

_Trin._ Wilt come? I’ll follow, Stephano. [_Exeunt._

Notes: III, 2.